Although Rojo only signed a new three-and-a-half-year deal in March, worth £160,000-a-week, that was done chiefly to protect his market value, with United wanting up to £30m for him.

The Argentina defender, 28, has played just 107 of a possible 223 games for United since joining from Sporting Lisbon for £16m four years ago, his woeful injury record finally persuading Mourinho to jettison him.